Rethinking public health pedagogy: lessons learned and pertinent questions

Abstract

COVID-19 has, understandably, drastically shifted the way our world operates. Inevitably, the field of public health has experienced an explosion of innovation and learning opportunities. For instance, while health studies/public health university programs teach students about health from a social perspective, COVID-19 has afforded new lessons about the field of public health and considerations for educators. This manuscript explores cases of COVID-19 yielding new lessons for students, directly and indirectly, through the author’s position of teaching in the field across two institutions. For example, through the application of COVID-19 to policy theory, we are able to consider how COVID-19 may be a catalyst for policy change in the social determinants of health. Similarly, this manuscript discusses examples learned inadvertently through teaching. For example, the movement of instruction from in-person to online raises equity concerns by enhancing access to education for some, while restricting access to education for others; bringing equity considerations that are inherent in the field to the forefront of teaching. With regard to public health education, COVID-19 presents opportunity for pedagogical improvement both directly and indirectly. However, we must ask ourselves how much reliance on COVID-19 as a topic and a tool for education is too much? COVID-19 has infiltrated essentially every major facet of daily life; should it also be incorporated into nearly all of our lessons? In this manuscript, we present key areas and questions for the consideration of those who engage in public health education, which are applicable inside and outside the (possibly virtual) university classroom.